When the Draft comes along...

I'm just looking forward to the draft. A big chance to add depth and improve this team for now, but most importantly to have good,young players for the future.

Assumed if we get the #1 or #2 pick, we'll take Durant or Oden if they declare...but it's more than likely we'll get a late lottery pick, mid-lottery pick, two mid-to-late lottery picks, or even a non-lottery pick (which looks very slim now). With that all said...here's a few guys I'd love to see picked. Feel free to add any solid players you think will be available for the Clippers to select.

Jared Dudley (F) - Boston College

Acie Law IV (PG/SG) - Texas A&M

Jeff Green (G/F) - Georgetown

Darren Collison (PG) - UCLA

Alando Tucker (SG) - Wisconsin

Considering Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Aaron Gray and some International players will probably go 1-5...these are a few of the guys I think will be available in the first round that are worth taking.

And after watching the 1st day of college b-ball today, I was impressed with Roderick Wilmont (Indiana), Tyrese Rice (Boston College) and the guy from VCU that kept making key shots in the upset over Duke.

david

03/16/2007 - 06:44 PM PST

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I think the Clippers need a quick PG who can hit the 3. Acie Law isn't super explosive, but he can shoot and is known to deliver in the clutch. So I say he'd be a good first choice for the Clippers. But they should also take a deep look at Marco Bellini from Italy- apparently he can shoot the lights out and he also likes to play PG even though he's 6'6". If they do get another first rounder, I'd like to see them get Rudy Fernandez from Spain (if they can come to a good agreement). Apparently he has great basketball IQ and is extremely quick, plus he can shoot. I can see him being a X-factor for the Clippers, and some even compare him to Manu Ginobilli. I really like Darren Collison also- but he's only a sophomore so he might stay in school. The guy is super-quick and plays good D, and a decent outside shooter to boot. If he comes out the Clippers would be in good shape since they'd have a great chance of drafting either him or Law. Morris Almond is also intriguing- conference USA player of the year, a 4th year senior, averages 26 PPG while shooting 45% 3's and 85% FT. He also has a 6’10" wingspan and some say his body can grow out to be like Corey Maggette. So I think if they had 2 picks, any of these combinations would be great:

-Law and Almond

-Collison and Almond

-Collison and Fernandez

-Law and Fernandez

-Law and Bellini

TGMosesVI

03/16/2007 - 08:40 PM PST

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Acie Law: I think he'll be taken by then.

Aaron Affalo. For sure. That's who I'd pick.

JamFan

03/18/2007 - 12:43 AM PST

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It is kind of hard to have a take on who to draft when we could be drafting anywhere from 5 to 16. But when we do, I want a guy who can reallyshoot from the outside. We have post players. We have Maggette for driving the lane, and going to the line. We do not need a PG to push the ball or drive the lane because our coach doesn't have any of that in his game plan. What is our glaring need? Shooting cures all. So who is the most proflific shooter our there?

JamFan

03/18/2007 - 12:56 AM PST

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David, I went and read the scouting report on Bellini. He sounds like the type of SG we are looking for, and he likes to play PG at 6"6". 3 point range and the mid range jumper. If he falls to us he might be a guy we can not pass up. Only 21 years old though, so I hope we send over a boxer to punch him for awhile to see how durable he is. Nick Young and Aaron Affalo would make a nice back up plan.

david

03/18/2007 - 09:46 PM PST

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Yeah he would be a good choice since the Clippers are needing help at PG + they need a shooter. I'm not sure if they should pick any one other than a PG if they only have one first rounder, however.

I'm not convinced that Afflalo would be a good first round pick- he is a little too inconsistent and doesn't seem like much of a rebounder. Maybe if he falls into the second round he'd be worth taking.

JamFan

03/18/2007 - 11:19 PM PST

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One draft tracker has Affalo at 14 and another has him at 28. So there is not as yet a consensus on Aaron. Nick Young may not even come out. It is a deep draft so our chances of getting a good player are pretty good. I would love to see some film of Bellini, unfortunately he is playing in Europe, so........

jlemmen43

03/18/2007 - 11:51 PM PST

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Afflalo is definitely a shooter, but yes it seems like he lacks a lot of other parts of the game. I think he'd still be a good choice, but Acie Law does a lot of other things besides just shooting. I'd rather have Law, but that's just my opinion. As long as we get a non-project, I'll be happy.

david

03/19/2007 - 03:01 AM PST

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Here are some clips of Belinelli (I kept mispelling his name Bellini) from YouTube:

I couldn't find any video on Dominic McGuire (a defensive beast and a great rebounder), but he looks like a steal if the Clippers can get him in the 2nd round: http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=15301
Ibrahim Jaaber, a PG from Penn, who played Acie Law tough might be a solid 2nd round candidate for the Clippers as well: http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=15589
Same with Mario Chalmers of Kansas if he comes out early: http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=27141
Jaycee Carroll is a big time shooter/scorer, though undersized- another interesting possibility for the....

Belinelli and Rudy are very similar...Both are the same kind of player: a shooting guard but phisically a little bit skinny, slim...Without any doubt our priority this summer is getting a PG: it doesn't matter if it's via draft or via free agency.

On the other hand I would like to comment a player who's playing in Spain and has had a huge impact...I'm talking about Marcus Fizer. This guy really deserves to be playing in NBA. He's the max scorer in the competition and he scores from everywhere.:inside, perimeter...He has one of the most spectacular bodies I've ever seen.I only can ask me when is he going to return to NBA

ether

03/19/2007 - 09:13 AM PST

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I remember Fizer (Phizer?). There was a lot of talk about LAC drafting him, but we took Darius Miles instead. At the time Marcus looked like a Barkley type. In retrospect, noone from that draft had much of an impact. I've always thought we should have a junior Elton on the bench, but we never have. Wilcox wasn't happy in that role, and Vin Baker just didn't have it last year. A guy like Marcus could give you good solid minutes of toughness off the bench.

david

03/19/2007 - 01:50 PM PST

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I think Fizer was in the NBDL for a while- I guess that he's improved a lot since he's moved to Europe. He'll probably sign on with the NBA- he's probably catch the eyes of some teams. Maybe even the Bulls who drafted him in the first place, since they want a post player badly.

jlemmen43

03/19/2007 - 01:53 PM PST

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Yeah he could probably come to the NBA for a few seasons. I think James Singleton could fill the role of what Ether is talking about, but he'll have to improve some skills. Thanks for the video links, David.

ether

03/19/2007 - 03:08 PM PST

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I spoke out of turn ... jlemmen is right, Singleton is all we need (In don't know what I was thinking!).

ether

03/19/2007 - 03:17 PM PST

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I believe the way the lottery works, either we'd get one of the top 3 picks (small % chance) or get whatever our record merits (same for the Wolves pick, if they finish out of the worst ten). There is no middle ground, since they only pick three lottery balls and then the rest of the draft goes according to worst W-L record.

It's too early for me to think about who we could draft - still too many variables for my small brain!

But I wouldn't want to use a high pick on a PG while there's still a chance that Shaun may be the one. Maybe better to sign a vet to hold down the fort for two years until we know more (maybe someone on the Earl Watson, Luke Ridnour or Brevin Knight level).

david

03/19/2007 - 03:32 PM PST

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Yup I agree- Singleton should be able to fill that role. Poor James- I think he's played like 10 seconds in the last 7 games?

As for the lottery for the top 3- we'd only be eligible if we don't make the playoffs, and even then it'd be a very slim chance- like 1 in 500 or something if you have e.g. the 12th worse record. So I think the best likely scenario would be for the Clippers to get the #11 pick from Minnesota + their own lower pick. That's hoping the the T'Wolves can start winning .

jlemmen43

03/19/2007 - 10:59 PM PST

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I agree guys. The best thing to hope for is a strong finish by the Clips and the T-Wolves to win more. hehe.

JamFan

03/21/2007 - 10:54 AM PST

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If the Clippers did not make the playoffs and had a lottery pick in the draft, and Minnesota fell into the right slot so we had their lottery pick as well, we could trade two lottery picks and trade up into the top 5 and get one of the top franchise draft picks to add to our squad. Go to any draft tracker and look at the top 5 players and dream about getting a Kevin Durant, Greg Noah, or Joaquim Noah. Ask yourselves, would getting one of the players be better for us next year than limping into the 8th spot in the playoffs only to lose in the 1st round to an unbeatable team? Your thoughts!

TGMosesVI

03/21/2007 - 03:46 PM PST

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That's what I've been trying to say much earlier. If the Clippers limp by and get the 8th seed, there's no way they can go up against a team like the Mavs. Even the most diehard Clipper fan can see the writing on the wall. It may be best to at least get a shot at a solid lottery pick -- seeing as how talent and deep the draft is going to be this year. However, I wouldn't put Joaquim in the same league as Noah or Durant. It's not even close. I would pick at least five players before Noah (two of which are on the same Gator team). Joaquim is the heart of the Florida team for sure, but his shot is iffy and he lacks athleticism. He excels against smaller men, but I doubt he'll standout in the NBA, once he faces bigger, stronger PF and C's.

In any case, I just want the Clippers to draft a solid, well developed, experienced player. Like an Acie Law (again, unless the Clippers drop a couple of spots, I don't see us nabbing him. Having another quality PG would be nice though...) or an Affalo (sure his game is iffy sometimes, but you're disregarding he's a lockdown defender. And if Magg is leaving this summer, which I think he will, the Clippers will be shorthanded at that spot)

I just don't want another Korolev type...

david

03/21/2007 - 04:25 PM PST

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Well I suppose it's a win-win situation- if the Clippers make the playoffs it's great- lots of hoopla and gives more credibility to the team for free agents. And if the guys going down fighting but don't make the post season they'll have a slightly higher draft pick + a slim chance at the top 3. Personally I still want to see the team make the playoffs. They might not last long the first round vs. Dallas, but at least they would have made it and again there's that credibility factor you gain by making it.

Actually I think Maggette can leave not this summer but the next. And who knows he may re-sign, but if not hopefully the Clippers can trade him before the trade deadline next season. Afflalo does play good D. His teammate Darren Collison, however, plays even better D and would be a better choice for the Clippers. Hopefully he comes out for this draft!

jlemmen43

03/21/2007 - 04:25 PM PST

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I agree about Noah. He probably wouldn't make it at the NBA level. He could prove us wrong though.

I'm all for getting Oden or Durant if we get the top picks. Oden seems to share the ball more. Durant seems like a huge ballhog to me. I can see Durant becoming a Tracy McGrady type. Oden could become more like a Garnett.